TRACK | Baker & Manly grab Madison gold; Glaetzer's amazing bronze

Manly & Baker Madison Gold | Photo - Guy Swarbrick

One gold, one silver and two bronze medals for Australia on the second night of the fourth round of the TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup in Cambridge, New Zealand. 

Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly got Australia’s night off to the perfect start, winning gold in the women’s madison in dominant fashion, while Matthew Glaetzer claimed a remarkable bronze medal in the men’s keirin, little over a month after having surgery to remove a thyroid cancer.

Stephanie Morton secured Australia’s second bronze of the night in the women’s sprint, while Nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer snatched silver in the men’s omnium.

Women’s madison

Georgia Baker and Alexandra Manly got Australia’s night off to the perfect start, winning gold in the women’s madison in dominant fashion.

They sealed victory by winning the double points final sprint, after building an early lead by winning four of the first six.

“It was a pretty tough madison actually. Not too many teams out there, but it was definitely a tough mado for Alex and I,” Baker said.

“We were just focusing on trying to get a consistent ride. Trying to get our changes and our timing right, trying to break the Madison down and just get all the basic things right and hope to come out with a result.

“That just goes to show all of our hard work in Adelaide paid off here.”

Baker, who claimed silver in the madison at the world championships earlier this year, and Manly finished 10 points clear of Poland, with the Subway New Zealand trade team a further 13 points back in third.
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Glaetzer \ Photo - Guy Swarbrick

Men’s keirin

Matthew Glaetzer claimed a remarkable bronze medal in the men’s keirin, little over a month after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer and having surgery to remove the growth.

The 2018 sprint world champion won his first and second round heats in commanding fashion, but had to settle for third in the final behind Mohd Azizulhasni Awang of Malaysia and Guzprom-Rusvelo rider Shane Perkins.

“It’s pretty surreal, to be honest. It’s the best third place I’ve got in my career,” Glaetzer said.

“I exceeded my expectations by about three positions with this third place and very special in the considerations of what I’ve been through and it’s a credit to my team around me, just taking it one day at a time and not letting something get in your way.”

Glaetzer will ride in the Brisbane World Cup next week before preparing for his first round of radiotherapy treatment.

“That will give me a good picture as to what exactly we’re dealing with and from there assessing how many treatments I’ll need.”

Women’s sprint

Stephanie Morton secured Australia’s second bronze of the night in the women’s sprint.

The team sprint world champion clocked the fastest ever time in New Zealand (10.537secs) and was untroubled in her second round and quarter-final heats.

But Morton was beaten by Russia’s Anastasiia Voinova in the semi-finals, setting up a bronze medal ride-off against another Russian, Daria Shmeleva riding for Gazprom-Rusvelo.

She emerged with the bronze after two tight-fought heats.

“I’m really happy. I exceeded my expectations,” Morton said.

“You know I’m eight months post knee op so I kind of wasn’t sure what to expect.

“So to be able to come into this race not fully my best and to be able to get a good 200 time and then get on the podium I’m so happy.”

Team-mate Caitlin Ward lost in the second round after qualifying 14th, with Voinova pipping world record holder Kelsey Mitchell for gold.

Men’s omnium

Nine-time world champion Cameron Meyer snatched silver in the men’s omnium, after a great battle with hometown favourite Campbell Stewart.

Meyer held a slender lead over the reigning world omnium champion after the 10km scratch and tempo races, before falling two points behind Stewart when the Kiwi won the elimination race.

They then duelled throughout the points race but Meyer ultimately had to settle for second, nine points behind Stewart, with Kazakhstan’s Artyom Zakharov third, a further four points back.

“It was a bit of a one-on-one battle there with Campbell, but he’s super strong,” Meyer said.

“He’s proved that with a world championship win and the win in Hong Kong last week at the World Cup.

“I’m really happy. I haven’t done too much track of late and it’s been a while since I’ve done an omnium.

“I’m happy to get on the board and on the podium behind Campbell, nothing wrong with a silver medal.”

Women’s scratch

Amy Cure finished 11th in the women’s scratch race after four riders gained a lap on the field and contested the medals.